Updated 9 Oct 2026, 2:39 am EDT. Get alerts for Otsego County lakes
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96 lakes · 6,520 acres · 41 with measured depth · 14 with a public launch · 18 stocked
Otsego County has 96 lakes of 10 acres or more, 92 of them named, covering 6,520 acres of water. The largest is Otsego Lake at 2,013 acres; the deepest measured is Heart Lake at 123 ft. Michigan DNR has surveyed the depth of 41 lakes here. Several names repeat: 4 lakes are called Five Lakes, 2 lakes are called Grass Lake and 2 lakes are called Mud Lake.
Lake outlines: Michigan hydrography (lakes of 10 acres or more). Depths: Michigan DNR lake surveys, fetched 7 Oct 2026. County line: U.S. Census TIGER. Drawn square to the county's survey lines, which run 1° off true north; the arrow points to true north. Not for navigation.
11 lakes in Otsego County cover 100 acres or more. The 12 largest are listed here; the full register of 92 named lakes follows.
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego Lake | 2,013 | 23 ft | 9 ft | 2 | 2026 |
| Big Bear Lake | 344 | 36 ft | 16 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Lake Tecon | 274 | 2025 | |||
| Big Bradford Lake | 256 | 102 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Turtle Lake | 168 | about 30 ft (est.) | 3 ft | ||
| Lake Manuka | 164 | 27 ft | 12 ft | 1 | |
| Opal Lake | 125 | 40 ft | 14 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Lake | 124 | 81 ft | 12 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Guthrie Lake | 124 | 85 ft | 14 ft | 1 | |
| Little Bear Lake | 110 | 30 ft | 17 ft | 2015 | |
| Lake Twentyseven | 106 | 22 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2024 |
| Crapo Lake | 97 | 36 ft | 8 ft |
| Lake | Acres | Deepest | Clarity | Launches | Last stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego Lake | 2,013 | 23 ft | 9 ft | 2 | 2026 |
| Big Bear Lake | 344 | 36 ft | 16 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Lake Tecon | 274 | 2025 | |||
| Big Bradford Lake | 256 | 102 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Turtle Lake | 168 | about 30 ft (est.) | 3 ft | ||
| Lake Manuka | 164 | 27 ft | 12 ft | 1 | |
| Opal Lake | 125 | 40 ft | 14 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Lake | 124 | 81 ft | 12 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Guthrie Lake | 124 | 85 ft | 14 ft | 1 | |
| Little Bear Lake | 110 | 30 ft | 17 ft | 2015 | |
| Lake Twentyseven | 106 | 22 ft | 17 ft | 1 | 2024 |
| Crapo Lake | 97 | 36 ft | 8 ft | ||
| Buhl Lakes | 91 | about 30 ft (est.) | 9 ft | ||
| Douglas Lake | 86 | 36 ft | 17 ft | 1997 | |
| Dixon Lake | 78 | 30 ft | 14 ft | 1 | 2025 |
| Lewis Lake | 74 | about 35 ft (est.) | 8 ft | ||
| Big Chub Lake | 73 | 74 ft | 16 ft | 2026 | |
| Perch Lakes | 73 | about 35 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Heart Lake | 67 | 123 ft | 18 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Bridge Lake | 65 | 87 ft | 2026 | ||
| Big Bass Lake | 64 | 30 ft | 13 ft | 1 | |
| Lake Horicon | 64 | about 45 ft (est.) | 19 ft | ||
| Five Lakes, Livingston Township | 59 | 6 ft | 6 ft | ||
| Lynn Lake | 57 | about 40 ft (est.) | 12 ft | ||
| Lake Wequos | 55 | 5 ft | 11 ft | ||
| Emerald Lake | 53 | 30 ft | 13 ft | 1 | |
| Lansing Club Pond | 51 | about 15 ft (est.) | |||
| Caulkins Lake | 49 | 40 ft | 14 ft | 2024 | |
| Hardwood Lake | 47 | about 20 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Thomas Lake | 47 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Pencil Lake | 46 | 28 ft | 19 ft | 1998 | |
| Pickerel Lake | 43 | 33 ft | 6 ft | 1 | 2026 |
| Lake Marjory | 42 | 79 ft | 15 ft | ||
| Seventh Spectacle Lake | 40 | 32 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Clear Lake | 38 | 58 ft | 13 ft | ||
| Lower Chub Lake | 38 | about 40 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Five Lakes, Livingston Township | 36 | 8 ft | 11 ft | ||
| Viking Lake | 36 | 25 ft | 7 ft | ||
| O'Rourke Lake | 36 | about 40 ft (est.) | 18 ft | ||
| Martin Lake | 34 | 8 ft | 14 ft | 1991 | |
| Johannesburg Lake | 32 | about 40 ft (est.) | 10 ft | ||
| Town Line Lake | 31 | 44 ft | 13 ft | 2025 | |
| Middle Traverse Lake | 30 | 25 ft | 3 ft | ||
| Gee Lake | 30 | 15 ft | 10 ft | ||
| Grass Lake, Corwith Township | 29 | 6 ft | 5 ft | ||
| Woodin Lake | 29 | about 35 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| West Traverse Lake | 27 | about 30 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| West Lake | 26 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Grass Lake, Chester Township | 26 | about 30 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Swede Lake | 25 | about 35 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Lake Nineteen | 25 | about 20 ft (est.) | 1 ft | ||
| Little Bradford Lake | 24 | ||||
| Hatch Lake | 24 | about 30 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Olund Lake | 24 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Oley Lake | 23 | about 30 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Sixth Spectacle Lake | 23 | 20 ft | 12 ft | ||
| Kassuba Lake | 23 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Fowler Lake | 23 | about 20 ft (est.) | 4 ft | ||
| Little Crapo Lake | 22 | about 35 ft (est.) | 17 ft | 1 | |
| Belmore Lake | 21 | about 30 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Lake Eighteen | 21 | about 30 ft (est.) | 11 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Charlton Township | 21 | about 25 ft (est.) | 1 ft | ||
| Linton Lake | 21 | about 35 ft (est.) | 16 ft | ||
| Berry Lake | 19 | about 40 ft (est.) | 16 ft | ||
| Denny Lake | 19 | about 40 ft (est.) | 14 ft | ||
| Dodge Lake | 17 | about 20 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Little Bass Lake | 17 | 40 ft | 8 ft | ||
| Long Lake | 17 | about 25 ft (est.) | 6 ft | ||
| Deer Lake, Elmira Township | 17 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Porcupine Lake #5 | 16 | ||||
| Deer Lake, Hayes Township | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 13 ft | ||
| Pettifor Lake | 16 | about 25 ft (est.) | 16 ft | ||
| Five Lakes, Livingston Township | 15 | 6 ft | 11 ft | ||
| Loon Lake | 15 | about 20 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Lake Fifteen | 15 | about 25 ft (est.) | 7 ft | ||
| Porcupine Lake #2 | 15 | 18 ft | 16 ft | ||
| Ell Lake | 14 | 20 ft | |||
| Ward Lake | 13 | 6 ft | |||
| Duck Lake | 13 | 10 ft | 10 ft | ||
| Mud Lake, Corwith Township | 12 | 6 ft | |||
| Chain O'Lakes (northwe | 12 | ||||
| Kujawa or Burg Lake | 12 | 12 ft | |||
| McCoy Lake | 12 | ||||
| Five Lakes, Livingston Township | 12 | 6 ft | 11 ft | ||
| East Traverse Lake | 12 | 20 ft | 7 ft | ||
| Fleming Lake | 11 | 5 ft | |||
| Pants Lake | 11 | ||||
| Bob Lake | 11 | 5 ft | |||
| Ginsel Lake | 11 | 3 ft | |||
| Perch Lake | 11 | 6 ft | |||
| Clifford Lake | 11 | 15 ft | |||
| Round Lake | 10 |
Acres: Michigan hydrography. Deepest: Michigan DNR survey; "est." marks an older Michigan EGLE estimate, rounded to 5 ft. Clarity: Michigan EGLE satellite averages 2018–23. Launches: Michigan DNR. Stocking: Michigan DNR Fisheries. Fetched 7–8 Oct 2026.
2 lakes in Otsego County are 100 ft deep or more by Michigan DNR survey. Heart Lake is the deepest at 123 ft, then Big Bradford Lake (102 ft), Bridge Lake (87 ft) and Guthrie Lake (85 ft). The depth of the other 51 named lakes has not been surveyed; where an older state estimate exists, the register gives it as an estimate.
Michigan DNR lake survey deep points, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Clarity is the depth at which a black-and-white Secchi disk disappears from view. Across 81 lakes with satellite readings, the middle value in Otsego County is 12 ft. The clearest is Pencil Lake at about 19 ft, then Lake Horicon (19 ft), Heart Lake (18 ft) and O'Rourke Lake (18 ft). The least clear is Lake Nineteen at about 1 ft. Clarity is not a test for bacteria or algae toxins.
Michigan EGLE satellite-derived Secchi depth, averages 2018–23, fetched 7 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR lists 15 public access sites on 14 lakes in Otsego County; 13 require a Recreation Passport. The other 78 named lakes have no public access site listed by Michigan DNR.
| Lake | Site | Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Otsego Lake | Otsego Lake County Park | 1 ramp lane · 15 trailer spaces · vault toilet · accessible restroom |
| Otsego Lake | Otsego Lake State Park | 2 ramp lanes · 46 trailer spaces · 15 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Big Bear Lake | Big Bear Point State Forest Campground | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Big Bradford Lake | Big Bradford Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Lake Manuka | Lake Manuka | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Opal Lake | Opal Lake | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Big Lake | Big Lake | 1 ramp lane · 2 trailer spaces · 3 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Guthrie Lake | Guthrie Lake | 1 ramp lane · 2 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Lake Twentyseven | Lake Twenty-Seven | 1 ramp lane · 1 trailer space · 1 car space · Recreation Passport required |
| Dixon Lake | Dixon Lake | 1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · 1 car space · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Heart Lake | Heart Lake | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Big Bass Lake | Big Bass Lake | 1 ramp lane · 3 trailer spaces · 2 car spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required |
| Emerald Lake | Emerald Lake | 1 ramp lane · 4 trailer spaces · 1 car space · Recreation Passport required |
| Pickerel Lake | Pickerel Lake SFCG | 1 ramp lane · 2 trailer spaces · 4 car spaces · Recreation Passport required |
| Little Crapo Lake | Little Crapo Lake | 3 car spaces |
Michigan DNR boating access sites, fetched 8 Oct 2026.
Michigan DNR has stocked 18 lakes in Otsego County 542 times since 1979. Walleye went into 11 lakes: Big Bear Lake, Big Bradford Lake, Big Lake, Caulkins Lake, Dixon Lake, Lake Tecon, Lake Twentyseven, Little Bear Lake, Opal Lake, Otsego Lake and Town Line Lake. The most recent stocking was 19,056 walleye in Big Lake on 9 June 2026. Big Chub Lake, Heart Lake and Pickerel Lake are designated trout lakes (Type B), with their own seasons and limits. Rivers and smaller waters stocked in the county: Big Bear Lake Marsh, Club Creek, Ford Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Lost Lake, North Twin Lake, Otsego Lake Pike Marsh and Pigeon River and 5 more.
| Species | Lakes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 11 | Big Bear Lake, Big Bradford Lake, Big Lake, Caulkins Lake, Dixon Lake and Lake Tecon and 5 more |
| Rainbow trout | 8 | Big Bradford Lake, Big Chub Lake, Bridge Lake, Heart Lake, Little Bear Lake and Opal Lake and 2 more |
| Northern pike | 5 | Douglas Lake, Lake Twentyseven, Martin Lake, Otsego Lake and Pencil Lake |
| Tiger muskellunge | 4 | Big Bear Lake, Dixon Lake, Little Bear Lake and Otsego Lake |
| Muskellunge | 2 | Big Bear Lake and Otsego Lake |
| Black crappie | 2 | Caulkins Lake and Little Bear Lake |
| Brown trout | 2 | Big Chub Lake and Bridge Lake |
| Yellow perch | 2 | Little Bear Lake and Pencil Lake |
| Lake sturgeon | 1 | Otsego Lake |
| Bluegill | 1 | Caulkins Lake |
| Splake | 1 | Heart Lake |
2026: 7 stockings, 1,279,077 fish in 6 lakes.
Michigan DNR Fisheries stocking records, fetched 8 Oct 2026. Each stocking is placed by its survey section, so lakes that share a name are kept apart. How we measure
96 lakes of 10 acres or more, 92 of them named, in Michigan's hydrography layer. Smaller ponds are not counted.
Otsego Lake, at 2,013 acres.
Heart Lake, 123 ft at its deepest point by Michigan DNR survey.
Pencil Lake, with an average Secchi depth of about 19 ft (satellite readings, 2018–23).
Michigan DNR lists public access sites on Otsego Lake, Big Bear Lake, Big Bradford Lake, Lake Manuka, Opal Lake, Big Lake, Guthrie Lake and Lake Twentyseven and 6 more.
Big Bear Lake, Big Bradford Lake, Big Lake, Caulkins Lake, Dixon Lake, Lake Tecon, Lake Twentyseven, Little Bear Lake, Opal Lake, Otsego Lake and Town Line Lake, by Michigan DNR stocking records.